jedave30

Don't quote me on this, but I heard from a assistant coach(not at Oak Ridge), that Rankins will be at Catholic next year or at least, he's in discussion about the job. You know how rumors are, but we'll just have to wait and see.

I started to send you a smiley, but I'll write it out instead. I just took it to heart when you said this is what the message board is for.. I thought I would by-pass the love connection's websites. It seems like this may have a higher 'catch' rate. Plus, I know I can always catch someone wanting to chat with me on here. So Blade, tell me something about you that I don't know, outside of football. I know you are pretty 'sharp' guy or 'dull'? For starters, how long is your blade?

Blade - I would let you live with me, if, you would be my Huckleberry.

I think you have the wrong guy, Blade. I've never been negative. I think everyone who 'really' knows me would agree. You can't show me where I have said anything negative. You can show me where I have pointed out some differences and similarities, and discussed the talent levels of current and future players, but negative, I leave that up to you. Appreciate it ORidgeKat.

I've never lived life thinking I was. My tough qualities left me 20 something years ago. I just live in a 'reality' world. I'm glad you know who I am. I'm not a man who will say something and go hide. I'll never say something on these boards that I couldn't say to someone's face. I have nothing to prove. That's how I roll. What do their 3 week converstations have to do with a chip on my shoulder, Blade?

Would someone please end the love fest between SweetScience and 92Dragon. Why don't you two guys exchange phone numbers and text each other. Sweetscience - did you think 92Dragon looked cute answering those questions?

I heard Coach Stevens gave the halftime motivational speech. Is that correct? I couldn't imagine our new Coach using 'bad' language. To date, Stevens the only coach who has ever used such 'filty' words to the kids. Does he have company now? Just wondering......

Thanks for the update. Actually, I wasn't keeping track but it is insightful info. I do know LeVergne is ahead of last year LeVergne's team. I don't know if I consider that an improvement, what about you? I've noticed OR is on par with last year's record playing a bunch of 4A, 5A and/or 6A teams. My bad, they got beat by the only 6A school they played to date. Catback and Bladerunner - who plays in the harder region? (LeVergne, Smyrna(sp), Blackman, Riverdale, Murfreesboro Oakland) or (Oak Ridge, Halls, Karns, Campbell County, Clinton, Central)? You get the point. I guess Maryville (4A) playing down to win multiple state championships is not as easy as it seems, huh? That's one of the arguements Oak Ridge fans seems to to bring up. We're (Oak Ridge) playing lower level competition now. If we can't win a state championship, we should at least go underfeated in the regular season.

How can we find common ground? I'm a litte confused. I think there's a misconception here and I need someone to explain this to me. Several years ago, people were screaming it's the coach. Now people are saying it's the players. Which one is it? Neither coach recruited their players. It is what it is. I've been screaming we're lacking in playing makers the whole time. That doesn't make me correct, but it's amazing 2 years later, we're back to the same conversation and NOW people are agreeing it's the players. I'm not trying to compare coachs, bladerunner and I didn't say I want Stevens back. I'm just pointing out the facts.

STILLNUM1 - Jerry lives in Washington state.

Shawn Williams (95') never played with Joe White (90') or Shawn Summers (92').

Coach Stevens 1-1 Coach Blade 0-1 Considering OR has played one game to date, maybe not a fair comparsion. Here's the problem I have, before the Farragut game, all I heard was how OR was going to beat Farragut because Farragut wasn't that good and lost more returning starters than OR. This was the first time I saw OR since the Austin East Scrimmage, which I thought they looked pretty good. Here's the question I must ask, where is the player development? I understand OR had some injuries, BUT if Blade is developing players at the rate some posters claim, where are those players? Bladerunner - you seem to deflect every question asked of you. I have excepted the players as a whole are not that talented, when are you? If I remember correctly, you were the one who said Blade WILL make a difference. The schedule has been put on a silver platter for him. I thought Farragut ran up and down the field on the Wildcats but couldn't finish. It's reflected in the stats. Play calling was horrible, especially in overtime. Kids techniques were awful. Maybe the players move had something to do with it, but why would anyone move players around the week of the first game considering they have been working hard since November. Back to a last year question, Bladerunner, feel free to answer. As of now, who is the worst coach in OR history? Hint: Coaching record. Can anyone tell me what poster made this quote? "Coach Stevens is the worst coach in Oak Ridge history, look at his record."

I purposely stayed away from this site during football for a reason last year. I wanted to give Coach Blade a chance without 'prejudice'. I honestly thought Coach Blade did a good job last year. I wouldn't say great. After reading the treads between Bladerunner and KallyKat, I kinda agree with both on Coach Blade's assessment. I think CB had the team playing together and I also know their schedule was week, just like it will be every year with this new format. With this realignment, a 7-3 season is like a 5-5 season of the past. The opinions about Coach Stevens is a 'no win' situation. After reading the feud between the two, I decided to repost my last post after Coach Stevens resigned. I thought I would post it again, and tell me how this rang so true. Great report ORidgeKat, since I haven't had the time to witness practice myself like many. I would like to take this time to make my last post until the fall. I am one of OR biggest fans. I have given my heart and soul to the program. The program rewarded me with a college football scholarship, and I have elected to give back to the program by volunteering coaching football at the OR Boy's club, which I have been doing for several years. I don't want this to sound like a bitter post but I must say this. I realize SS is not the HC anymore. Am I bitter, not really but slightly. I'm not bitter because he's not coaching, I'm just a little bitter how he was treated. Coach Blade and Coach Stevens took over the OR job roughly with the same credentials. They both had won a State Championship. What separates them is yet to be seen. It's great to hear the kids are 'now' working hard on and off the field. To me, it's about time the kids take personal responsibility to do such. Working hard has nothing to do with the coaches, working hard is a personal responsibility, a personal gain. I'm pretty sure coaching had nothing to do with Spencer Gulimire working hard. He took it upon himself to acheive through personal dedication to the sport he loved. I understand a coach can motivate a player. I understand a coach can put you in position on the field to succeed, but a coach can't catch a football, throw a football, block, kick or tackle. It is up to the players to make all that happen. I have said all along, there was no talent on last year's team, and probably there will be no talent on this team. Four players can't get it done in the classification that OR plays in. I hope the players prove me wrong. If I remember correctly, last year Coach SS kicked off one of East Tennessee best players due to lack of self discipline. He sat players out of games in previous years to lack of self discipline. Here in OR, you are not judge how discipline your players are, not how hard they work, not how enthusiastic they are. Even though, that's the formula for success. At the end of the season, you are judged on your record. As one poster said in a previous post, "SS was the worst coach OR have every had, look at his record". What will be Coach Blade's measuring stick? Lastly, I support Coach Blade and the program. I have given my all to the program. I will be there through the good times and the bad times. I will be there rather they win or lose. I will be there if they are predicted to win or lose. It's easy to Monday morning quarterback. It's easy to hide behind a screen. At this state in the program, could each and everyone of us say the same with out some kind of personal agenda? I will be a WILDCAT to the end no matter who is coaching. To the players - Your season never ends. After Friday's scrimmage, a new season begins. This summer show personal dedication in the weight room, show personal dedication in your conditioning. When you are not working, somebody else is. If you are a leader on this team, lead by example. The question you must ask yourself, "How do I want to be remembered". Don't procrastinate! PROCRASTINATION: Hard work often pays off after time, but laziness always pays off now.

That was my point. At the end of the day, the record is the only thing that matters.

Great report ORidgeKat, since I haven't had the time to witness practice myself like many. I would like to take this time to make my last post until the fall. I am one of OR biggest fans. I have giving my heart and soul to the program. The program rewarded me with a college football scholarship, and I have elected to give back to the program by volunteering coaching football at the OR Boy's club, which I have been doing for several years. I don't want this to sound like a bitter post but I must say this. I realize SS is not the HC anymore. Am I bitter, not really but slightly. I'm not bitter because he's not coaching, I'm just a little bitter how he was treated. Coach Blade and Coach Stevens took over the OR job roughly with the same credentials. They both had won a State Championship. What separates them is yet to be seen. It's great to hear the kids are 'now' working hard on and off the field. To me, it's about time the kids take personal responsibility to do such. Working hard has nothing to do with the coaches, working hard is a personal responsibility, a personal gain. I'm pretty sure coaching had nothing to do with Spencer Gulimire working hard. He took it upon himself to acheive through personal dedication to the sport he loved. I understand a coach can motivate a player. I understand a coach can put you in position on the field to succeed, but a coach can't catch a football, throw a football, block, kick or tackle. It is up to the players to make all that happen. I have said all along, there was no talent on last year's team, and probably there will be no talent on this team. Four players can't get it done in the classification that OR plays in. I hope the players prove me wrong. If I remember correctly, last year Coach SS kicked off one of East Tennessee best players due to lack of self discipline. He sat players out of games in previous years to lack of self discipline. Here in OR, you are not judge how discipline your players are, not how hard they work, not how enthusiastic they are. Even though, that's the formula for success. At the end of the season, you are judged on your record. As one poster said in a previous post, "SS was the worst coach OR have every had, look at his record". What will be Coach Blade's measuring stick? Lastly, I support Coach Blade and the program. I have giving my all to the program. I will be there through the good times and the bad times. I will be there rather they win or lose. I will be there if they are predicted to win or lose. It's easy to Monday morning quarterback. It's easy to hide behind a screen. At this state in the program, could each and everyone of us say the same with out some kind of personal agenda? I will be a WILDCAT to the end no matter who is coaching. To the players - Your season never ends. After Friday's scrimmage, a new season begins. This summer show personal dedication in the weight room, show personal dedication in your conditioning. When you are not working, somebody else is. If you are a leader on this team, lead by example. The question you must ask yourself, "How do I want to be remembered". Don't procrastinate! PROCRASTINATION: Hard work often pays off after time, but laziness always pays off now.